We have 18 Centres around the UK. In this update we hear about major developments from Belfast and Manchester which are helping us move towards our vision of beating cancer.
The Belfast Cancer Research UK Centre was recently proud to host Professor Nic Jones, the Chief Scientist of Cancer Research UK, at the official opening of the Northern Ireland Molecular Pathology Laboratory (NIMPL) in January. The new NIMPL has a dual purpose. Its core responsibility is providing real-time molecular diagnostics services for cancer patients that are being treated within the Northern Ireland Cancer Centre. Additionally, facilitated by the engagement of the NI Biobank, the laboratory provides an additional capability for researchers in the Centre for Cancer Research and Cell Biology (CCRB) to support their explorational studies through analysis of high-quality, molecularly- and clinically-annotated tumour material.
This state-of-the-art facility is visible evidence of the investment made by Cancer Research UK, in partnership with the CCRCB at Queen’s University and the Belfast Health and Social Care Trust, to improve patient care and outcomes for people with cancer throughout Northern Ireland.
Speaking at the launch, Professor Manuel Salto-Tellez (pictured), the Chair in Molecular Pathology, paid tribute to Cancer Research UK’s Belfast Cancer Research UK Centre grant in enabling the development of this laboratory.
The vision to tailor patient care now and in the future through molecular pathology was the subject of Professor Salto-Tellez’s recent talk to Cancer Research UK staff in London.
The Manchester Cancer Research Centre (MCRC) – a partnership between Cancer Research UK, The University of Manchester and The Christie is set to become one of the largest single-site cancer research centres in Europe as work on its new £28.5m research building progresses.
With more space and improved facilities, the new research building will help to attract more of the world’s best cancer researchers to Manchester and a major recruitment plan is underway. The aim is to recruit around 20 new senior academics over the next five years. The building is expected to be operational in summer 2014.
The new research building allows for vital expansion of research activities and brings together world-class research into cancer biology, drug discovery and clinical trials. It will provide over 6,000m2 for expansion of research activity and will accommodate an additional 150 scientists on site. Working alongside these researchers, The Christie will re-locate around 100 clinical trials support staff to the top floor of the building.
The strategic investment complements existing facilities on the site, promoting collaboration between scientists and clinicians to drive translation of laboratory discoveries into clinical applications that improve treatments and outcomes for cancer patients. The building layout reflects and facilitates the partnership approach that underpins the MCRC, with numerous breakout areas, co-location of group leader offices, open plan write up space and sharing of core facilities.
In November 2012, cancer research in Manchester was given a £12.8m funding boost following a successful bid to the UK Research Partnership Investment Fund. This will part-fund the construction of the new research building and provides £8.7m towards specialist research equipment on site.
Read more about this and the latest from the Paterson Institute for Cancer Research.
